Parsha_Push, Parshat Vayikra

The ability to accept authority is important for the psychological development of a person, and “emunat chachamim” – trusting the Sages – is important for the religious development of a people. These days, those who study ‘daf yomi’ are finishing the tractate of Sanhedrin, where there is great importance placed on the Torah authority of leadership, to the extent of execution (at least theoretically) of an elder who defies the majority decision of the court and instructs contrary to its opinion. In our world today, acceptance of authority is not automatic. I believe there is educational value in recognizing the chain of authority throughout the generations, the decision-making process, and understanding that one must obey majority decisions.

After completing the tractate of Sanhedrin, we will encounter the tractate of Horayot, which is based on this week’s Torah portion, and deals largely with the mistakes of the court. It addresses the question of when the high court is the one that brings a sacrifice to atone for their mistaken judgments, as well as when the individual Israelite has responsibility when they err following the high court’s instruction. The very establishment of a sin offering for the “congregation” (meaning, according to the Sages’ interpretation, its Torah leaders) introduces the idea that even leaders can make mistakes. Additionally, the law establishes that the more a person knows, the greater their responsibility to check and examine whether the instructions given are indeed correct, and at the very least not to rely on the opinion of the Sages in matters where a red flag is raised.

The ability to hold these two notions and actions in the soul at once is very challenging. It requires on the one hand, acceptance of the authority of leadership, and obeying the laws that have been studied and clarified throughout the generations, sometimes at the cost of subjugating personal judgment. And on the other hand, asking questions, and examining whether things indeed conform to the Torah and the halachic process. Is everything that comes from the mouth of a halachic figure binding, or does it perhaps raise difficult questions that require further examination and investigation? The same Torah that determines “you shall not deviate from anything they instruct you” also says clearly that sometimes the entire congregation will sin, that sometimes something will be hidden from the eyes of the congregation, that sometimes both the leadership and society will need to atone.

The Torah does not make life easy for us. It demands that we always walk between the raindrops, accept authority, but continue to study Torah and take responsibility for our lives. And the more we learn, the greater the responsibility on one hand, and with it the challenge of listening to the voices of others. And as Ecclesiastes says, “It is good that you grasp this, and from that do not let your hand rest.”